Newborn Sleep Shaping
2 weeks to 4 months
Newborn Sleep Shaping
Newborn sleep is a controversial topic which is not discussed enough during pregnancy. People shy away from it and the focus is more on feeding. This can mean that when your little one comes along it can be a tiring and overwhelming start. Getting through the fourth trimester can be a lonely and confusing time. With so much advice out there, which should you listen to?
Your body is still healing from labour. Your little one cries, fusses, cluster feeds, feeds on demand or fights their sleep. You think it’s normal and you quietly get on with it, after all that’s what everybody else does right? Many parents rock, feed or walk their little bub to sleep which works for some families but others it means spending hours rocking, feeding and walking your little bub around to get them to sleep. This quickly becomes exhausting especially if your little one is constantly feeding, or feeding very little, crying a lot, suffering from gas or trapped wind or reflux symptoms, and he or she finds it very difficult to just drift off. If you have other children it can be even more challenging; the newborn issues, the emotions and transitions for their sibling of a new arrival and managing routines together. I specialise in sibling approaches and will support you through this transition.
So what exactly is Newborn Sleep Shaping?
Newborn Sleep shaping is the process of gently and gradually putting positive sleep habits in place to help your little one settle easily working towards independently, sleep, feed, nap and night feed at the correct age appropriate times. It involves using a hands on approach, as well as supportive age appropriate and scientifically proven sleep techniques to calm and settle your baby. We look at your your parenting style, your values as a family, baby’s temperament, medical issues, fussiness, baby’s schedule, feeding patterns, bedroom environment and your nursery set up.
I offer two different programmes; Newborn Sleep Shaping and Family Sleep Shaping. Both programmes consist of 2 weeks Intensive daily support during your sleep training. The Family Sleep Shaping is for those who have experienced a traumatic birth and would like some emotional support as well as your newborn sleep shaping package. (Family Sleep Shaping is also available as a 4 week support package).
Your Sleep Shaping Programme’s will cover:
- Post Natal Care
- The Fourth Trimester
- Sibling routine if applicable
- Gentle Sleep Settling techniques
- Age appropriate feeding
- Establishing feeding
- Breastfeeding support
Identifying feeding issues - Safe sleeping guidelines
- Bedroom environment
- Room sharing
- Night wakings
- Establishing naps
- Age appropriate awake windows
- Swaddling
- Transition to Sleeping Bag
- Dummy or not to dummy
- Cribs/Next to me/Cot
- Burping/winding
- Digestive issues
- Fussiness!!
- Reflux, allergies and colic
- Onwards referrals
Newborn Sleep Shaping:
Choose from 2 or 4 weeks of intensive daily support throughout your sleep training programme
- A comprehensive sleep assessment
- A personalised sleep plan with an age appropriate gentle sleep method
- 2 or 4 x 15 mins phone calls
- Daily email support
- Daily sleep log analysis
- Lifetime access to my private Facebook
- 3 days evening WhatsApp support from night 1 (5pm to 9pm)
- A Moving On Plan
- 3 Year Comprehensive Sleep Bible
Included in your sleep shaping package is the following invaluable and extensive digital e-handouts for your baby’s sleep up until the age of 5 years old when they are nap free.
This means you will never need to access sleep support again; you will have everything you need for your baby’s sleep, and you will be equipped to deal with any sleep issue. You will always have your baby on the correct age appropriate sleep routine, food and milk schedule.
Family Sleep Shaping:
If you have experienced a traumatic birth this programme gives you the opportunity to get extra support. I am a highly trained and experienced Psychotherapist and Birth Trauma therapist. Sometimes traumatic births can lead to fussiness, feeding and sleep issues. This is caused by compression on your baby’s head during birth if they have struggled through the birth canal or had a ventouse or forceps delivery.
During our sleep programme we will debrief your birth story, look at any birth trauma that you may have had, if this still affects you, how traumatic things were for your baby, and likely still are as a family. We will look at how any of these things may be contributing to your baby’s sleep, or lack of sleep and how you are feeling as a parent. I can also help you identify and refer on for any medical issues, such as reflux, colic and allergies, or tongue tie. All of these issues contribute to the mental and emotional heath of parents especially in the first few months. I can also refer you on to any relevant professionals where requested within this field.
We will have One Skype/Telephone 60 Minute Session and look at:
- Any signs of depression/post natal depression
- Sibling Transition
- Sleep deprivation
- The fourth trimester
- Post Natal Self Care
This can be used within 6 month.
What’s Included in your Family Sleep Shaping Programme:
- Newborn Sleep Shaping Programme
- One hour Skype/Phone birth debrief for both you and/or your partner (you can opt to do this alone and extra sessions can be purchased). This session can be used up to 6 months from the date you sign up with me
- 3 Year Comprehensive Sleep Bible
3 Year Comprehensive Sleep Bible
Your 3 Year Comprehensive Sleep Bible Includes the following guides: (Age Appropriate to your child)
Age Appropriate Routines up to 3 years old
Nap Transitions 3 to 2
Nap Transitions 2 to 1
Sleeping through the Night
Managing Days out and Social Activities
Managing Nursery
Managing Travel
Managing Sickness
Managing Teething
Growth Spurts
Sleep Regressions
Early Morning Wake Ups
Assisted Naps
Starting Solids
Moving on Plan
If Things Go Wrong
You can find more about the talking therapies I offer here; www.counsellingkorner.com